Leaders in Entrepreneurship

JAA is one of the leading organizations in catalyzing and developing local entrepreneurial ecosystems, and is particular notable for their work in starting, growing, and facilitating financing for entrepreneurs around the world. JAA’s work has been highlighted in books like “Startup Rising,” and in media outlets like CNN, New York Times, TechinAsia, TechCrunch, Mashable, and many local news outlets. JAA’s advice and approach on entrepreneurship has been sought after by several governments and donors including USAID, ADB, AfDB, World Bank, the Swiss Government, the Japanese Government and the US State Department.

JAA’s Approach, Tools and Products

JAA has developed a number of tools and approaches based on its experience and research in helping founders start, grow and leverage commercial financing. JAA’s approach does not work directly with entrepreneurs but helps develop the local ecosystem and government actors to create environments where entrepreneurs can flourish. Below is a list of JAA’s tools, approaches and products.

National and Local Entrepreneurship Policy and Strategies:

Government and donor programs want specific strategies in supporting entrepreneurs to grow their economies. In developing these strategies, JAA utilizes its global experience and research by highlighting the major inhibitors and bottlenecks concerning job creating entrepreneurs (such as policy environments) and the best ways to support the local ecosystem. For example, JAA developed an entrepreneurship White Paper for the government of Myanmar, under USAID, while it has also developed strategies for the Swiss government in seven different countries.

Entrepreneur Voices:

Chambers of Commerce, and business and industry associations don’t always represent new entrepreneurs, who are trying to disrupt the old economy. Entrepreneurs need a voice to ensure political leaders and policy makers understand how they can support these new business leaders as they develop new products and go after new markets that drive economic growth. In close to 30 years of work, JAA has developed survey tools and data collection methodology that prioritizes the real need of entrepreneurs compared to their every day complaints. JAA has done such work in at least 20 countries in Asia, Middle East and Africa.

Ecosystem Mapping:

An ecosystem is more than the institutions that manage entrepreneurship programming, but actually focuses on building communities where successful businesspeople, investors, organizations, universities, international organizations can engage and push entrepreneurs to the next level. JAA has developed tools that look at communities helping entrepreneurs while being able to deeply understand their strengths and the ability of institutions trying to have measurable impacts on entrepreneurs. JAA has done mapping exercises in Egypt, Vietnam, Myanmar, Pakistan, Albania, Macedonia, Serbia, Azerbaijan, Albania and Bosnia and Herzegovina.

Mentor Programs and Mentor Community Development:

There is no more effective way to help push entrepreneurs then by having experienced businesspeople engage with new entrepreneurs. JAA has developed world class approaches and trainings that help the local ecosystem recruit local and international mentors. It has developed the World Bank Mentor training for incubators and have engaged with over 30 entrepreneurship programs in Asia, Middle East and Eastern Europe.

Entrepreneurship and Startup Programming:

JAA has helped to catalyze, design and support some of the top entrepreneurship programming done in developing countries. These programs are made to be easily downloaded by local ecosystem partners. These programs include:

Startup Training Program: The program helps guide new startups to move from idea to market verification. The content and program can be transferred into different formats, whether through an intense weekend bootcamp to a once a week training. The program is designed to leverage local business knowledge, and is now being used in Cambodia, Myanmar, Egypt and Laos.

Business Building Competitions: Startup Competitions are not about picking winners, they are about creating a culture where founders become business leaders. JAA has designed over 40 startup programs that have proven impacts in starting and growing companies. Most importantly, JAA competitions are used by local organizations in a low cost effective manner.

EcoSystem Program Developer: JAA has worked with over 40 ecosystem organizations in designing and improving their programming, while also helping them reach sustainability across the globe.

International Entrepreneur in Residence (IEIR): Entrepreneurs and Ecosystem organizations that are connected to the rest of the world are more successful. JAA has built up a network of successful global entrepreneurs who are willing to share, connect and in some cases, invest in local entrepreneurs.

Ecosystem Facilitator:

Too many entrepreneurial ecosystems across the world have disconnected organizations that attempt to do everything without bringing together and utilizing the local ecosystem. JAA has successful experience in bringing different parts of a entrepreneurial ecosystem together at a national and regional level. JAA has experience on finding common goals and driving collaborative programs across multiple diverse players in Egypt and in Southeast Asia.